Multi-functional roller skates

Abstract

Mono-wheel roller skates having a single large main wheel which supports the skater and a pivotally mounted smaller brake actuation wheel which contacts the ground when the skates are tipped backward and which is operatively connected to caliper brakes which grip the main wheel to slow or stop the skater. The main wheel is treaded and spring-mounted on a cantilevered arm to absorb shocks for off-road skating. A removable rock guard works in conjunction with a built-in rail guard to deflect debris and prevent it from accumulating in front of the main wheel. An arcuate toe push-off piece or a unidirectionally rolling toe push-off wheel allows pushing off from the toe of the skate such that a skater can use an in-line skating stroke wherein the skates remain pointed in the direction of travel rather than angled outward thereto as is usually required for skating. A quick-release system comprising a plate mounted to the boot having short angled key sections which interlocks with mating slots in the support frame and pin in place allow the skater to quickly change from mono-wheel roller skate frames to in-line roller skate frames, tank tread, and bladed ice skate support frames. Both the in-line and the mono-wheel roller skates allow the use of multiple wheel sizes by means of slotted attachment points of the wheel axles to the supporting frames and cantilever arms.

I claim:  
     
       1. A multi-functional skate for attachment to the foot of a skater for skating on a ground surface, comprising: 
       a boot for receiving and holding the skater's foot, said boot which includes a upper support portion and a lower portion having a lowermost sole;  
       a frame attachable to the sole of said boot for rotationally connecting at least one wheel;  
       a main wheel rotationally connected to said frame for rollably supporting the skater upon the ground surface;  
       a brake actuation wheel rotationally disposed spaced from said main wheel, said brake actuation wheel being interconnected with said frame for movement relative to said main wheel;  
       a brake mechanism interconnected with said brake actuation wheel which is actuated by tilting said boot and said frame so as to apply force to said brake actuation wheel against the ground surface to induce movement of said brake actuation wheel relative to said main wheel wherein said brake mechanism bears against said main wheel to provide braking thereof without braking of said brake actuation wheel; and  
       wherein said main wheel has a substantially flat, annular braking surface on each side thereof, and said brake mechanism comprises a caliper brake having a pair of pivotally connected arcuate braking arms each having a brake pad attached thereto configured to bear against one of said braking surfaces during braking and opposite ends operatively connected to said brake actuation wheel for movement therewith.  
     
     
       2. A skate according to  claim 1 , wherein the brake actuation wheel is interconnected with the frame using a cantilevered brake actuation arm which is pivotally connected to said frame with the brake actuation wheel rotationally connected to said brake actuation arm. 
     
     
       3. A skate according to  claim 1 , wherein the brake actuation arm is biased in a downward direction by a spring mechanism which is operatively connected to the brake actuation arm and to the frame. 
     
     
       4. A skate according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring mechanism is adjustable to apply a desired preset force to the brake actuation arm. 
     
     
       5. A skate according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       the spring mechanism can be preloaded so as to provide a higher initial force to the brake actuation arm; and  
       the range of motion of said brake actuation arm is confinable for travel only within presetable limits.  
     
     
       6. A multi-functional skate for attachment to the foot of a skater for skating on a ground surface, comprising: 
       a boot for receiving and holding the skater's foot, said boot which includes a upper support portion and a lower portion having a lowermost sole;  
       a frame attachable to the sole of said boot for rotationally connecting at least one wheel;  
       a main wheel rotationally connected to said frame for rollably supporting the skater upon the ground surface;  
       a toe push-off means attached to said frame at a toe end of the boot; and  
       wherein said toe push-off means is a longitudinally arcuate member having an outer peripheral surface and which is attachable to a front portion of the frame so as to curve around the toe end of said boot and said front portion of said frame such that said outer peripheral surface is engageable with the ground surface for the skater to propel forward.  
     
     
       7. A multi-functional skate for attachment to the foot of a skater for skating on a ground surface, comprising: 
       a boot for receiving and holding the skater's foot, said boot which includes a upper support portion and a lower portion having a lowermost sole;  
       a frame attachable to the sole of said boot for rotationally connecting at least one wheel;  
       a main wheel rotationally connected to said frame for rollably supporting the skater upon the ground surface;  
       a toe push-off means attached to said frame at a toe end of said boot; and  
       wherein said toe push-off means is a unidirectionally rolling locking toe wheel having an outer peripheral surface and which is rotatably connectable to a front portion of said frame adjacent the toe end of said boot, which locking wheel freewheels in a forward rotational direction and locks in a reverse rotational direction, said outer peripheral surface being engagable with the ground surface for the skater to propel forward.  
     
     
       8. A multi-functional skate for attachment to the foot of a skater for skating on a ground surface, comprising: 
       a boot for receiving and holding the skater's foot, said boot which includes a upper support portion and a lower portion having a lowermost sole;  
       a frame attachable to the sole of said boot for rotationally connecting at least one wheel;  
       a main wheel rotationally connected to said frame for rollably supporting the skater upon the ground surface;  
       a concave rail guard having a concave portion with an outer surface configured for sliding along stair rails is connected to said frame being partially disposed within a matching concave cutout in a lower forward portion of said frame; and  
       wherein a rock guard is connected to said frame forward of said main wheel, said rock guard having a downwardly and rearwardly angled lower surface for deflecting rocks and other debris downwardly and away from said main wheel such that the debris does not get caught in front of said main wheel, said rock guard being removably connectable to said rail guard so as to cover said concave portion thereof.  
     
     
       9. A multi-functional skate for use by a person on the ground surface, comprising: 
       a boot for receiving and holding a skater's foot, said boot having a bottom, a toe end, and a heel end;  
       a frame attachable to the bottom of said boot for rotationally supporting a wheel;  
       a main wheel disposed below the bottom of said boot substantially parallel thereto and intermediately positioned between said toe and heel ends, said main wheel being rotationally interconnected with said frame;  
       a brake actuation wheel rotationally disposed spaced from said main wheel, said brake actuation wheel being interconnected with said frame for movement relative to said main wheel;  
       a brake mechanism interconnected with said brake actuation wheel which is actuated by tilting said boot and frame to apply force to said brake actuation wheel against the ground to induce movement of said brake actuation wheel relative to said main wheel wherein said brake mechanism bears against said main wheel to provide braking thereof without braking said brake actuation wheel;  
       wherein said main wheel is the only wheel which contacts the ground when the bottom of said boot is parallel thereto so as to comprise a mono-wheel skate; and  
       wherein said main wheel has a substantially flat, annular braking surface on each side thereof, and said brake mechanism comprises a caliper brake having a pair of pivotally connected arcuate braking arms each having a brake pad attached thereto configured to bear against one of said braking surfaces during braking and with opposite ends operatively connected to said brake actuation wheel for movement therewith.